Junction-box structure for electrical conductors.



C'. W. DAVIS. JUNCTION BOX STRUCTURE FOR ELEGTRIGAL ONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED-JULY 1,1009,

990,235., Patented M1125, 1913 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. Wt DAVS. @www 20X STRUGTURE ma ELECTRICAL oo-NDUCTORS.

AJPLGTXN FILED JULY l, 1909. @@g aented Apr; 25, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ENNSYLVANIA, ASSSIG-NolllV TO STANDARD UNDERGROUND -CABLE COMIAANY, O F PITTSFURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

JUNCTION-Box 'STRUCTURE Fon. nLEormALooNpUorons.

correas.

Specification of Letters Patent.A APatented Apr* 25, .1911

Application led July 1, 1909. Serial No. 505,382.

To all whom 'it'ma/y concern: y

Be it known .that L'OHARLES W. DAvis, residing at Edge\vo1'th. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United' States, have. invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Junction-Box Structures for Electrical Conductors, of which improvements the following is .a specification.

l stitute what is known as 'the My invention relates to improvements in the construction of junction-boxes for electrical conductors; and theobjects of my improvenient are simplicity of structure and economy of space in designing junction boxes for multiple-conductor cables, and also adaptability to conditions of service. In ordinarycity'installations of electrical service lines, multiple-conductor cables are very largely used insteadof single-conductor cables, for reason of economy. In such installations, junction boxes are employed at crossing places, ordinarily at street corners,` where cables branch, and where it is desired to electrically connect crossing lines, to coninterlinked7 system of cable installation. A junction box is a structure which is ordinarily secured to the vertical Wall of a man-hole beneath a street pavement, Within which all the positive conductors of the introduced cables are brought int-o electrical continuity with one another, and all of the negative conductors oi 'the introduced cables are'in like manner connected together, and to that end there are ordinarily arranged Within a junction box structure what are called bus-bars, to one of which all of the positives are connected and to another of which all of the negatives. are connected.

Because of the conditions of installation, it. is a first requisite in designing junction boxes that they' be shallow as possible, projecting from the wall of the man-hole the least possible distance, and it is another requisite that. the box with# its connections shall extend in vertical direction the least possible distance. With single-conductor cables, the problems of junction-box designing are relatively simple, for such individual cables may be introduced through the wall of the `junction box Without elaborate structure; but, when it comes to multiple-conductor cables,\diiliculty arises, because the cables.

several conductors'includ'ed in each cable must be separated, and each' connected in properimanner Within thevbox, each separate' :conductor being properly insulated.

In other'words, the problem is, how to bring a multiple-conductor cable up vertically to a box set as low as possible against vthe manhole wall; and, in the smallest possible vertical space, introduce 'the cables, so that each separate conductor shall be insulated. One alternative is to separate the conductors of the cable 'outside of the junction box and bring each' separated conductor intothc junction box by itself, and in .that case ofcourse the junction-box structure will be substantially the same as the junction-box structure for single conductor 'The objection however isthat., in order to separate the individual conductors, a. separater structure must be provided, a -structure called a terminal, within which such separation Vis properly insulated; and thisterminal. structure is a bulky thing, and a source of objection for that reason. The other alternative in hanililng multiple-conductor cables is to carry e cables through the' junction-box wall, and then, within the junction box, to separate the individual condoctors and properly insulate and connect them.v It is thisl latter alternative which is employed in iny improved construction.

VI provide the conductors of each cable introduced into the junction box with arate chamber Within the box, and in such chamber the separated conductors of each cable are immersed in insulating material, and from suoli chamber the several conductors are prolonged through a rigid supporting wall of insulatingmatcrial, Whose positionpand surface character are such' as to reduce leakage to a minimumt In the accompanying drawings which form part of this-specification Figure 1 is a side elevation of a junction box embodying my invention, the lid which closes the box laterally being removed. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section of the same box- With cover in place, the plane of section being indicated at II--II of Fig. 1. Figs. 3

.properly a sepand 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 illustrating modifications. In Fig. 4 there isshoivn also a portion of the wall and roof of the manho e. l

' bear v,the same reference numerals in every and its lid or cover-plate 2. In the low'er is preferably offset, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,

. most face of the box. These partitions pref- Parts which are repeated in several figures Y ease.

'lheboxin general shape is rectangular; and, by virtue of my improved construction, is of relatively small depth-by depth I mean the i distance from the cover plate to the back g wall, which is the wall ordinarily bolted against the-vertical wall of 'the man-hole.

Referring to I`igs. l and '2, the box will be seen to consist of a rectangular casing 1 wall 3 of this box a series of orifices is i formed, which extends in single line along i the length of the box. Thechamber within.' the box is divided incompletely, into a number of compartments. There is, first, a suceessionof partitions 4, preferably castintegral with the body of the box, arranged at intervals throughout the length of the box, projecting from the back wallof the box outward, and Aextending upward from the lowererably do notl extend all the way across thev box from rear wall to Vcover-plate. Another partition, 6, o f insulating material (such, for example, as slate or porcelain)- extends throughout the length of the box, atright angles to the partitions 4, and is clamped against the outer ends of the partitions 4. It extends from the lower wall 3 of the box upward, to form the series of compartments; and between the partition 6 and the lid 2 of the box an open chamber remains. The number'of compartments so formed corresponds to the number of cable orifices, and the latter -are so arranged that one orifice opens into each such compartment. The further details within each chamber which I am now about 1to describe are adapted for a three-- wire cable; that is, a'cable which carries a positive, a negative, and a neutral; but it will be understood that the arrangement may be varied in detail to suit the particular construction employed.

Confining attention to a-.single one of the compartments formed b, the partitions 4 and the slab of slate 6, it will be observed that the slab of slate 6 carries in each compartment three pole pieces, 7 8, and l9. The pole piece 7 is connected on the opposite side ofthe slate partition 6 with the bus-bar 10 which extends throughout the length of the box and is preferably arranged'in the upper part thereof. The pole pieces 8 and 9 are, on the opposite side of the slab of slate 6, connected with bus-bars 11 and 12, ,which also extend throughout the length of the box, and are preferably located in the open chamber outside of the slate partition 6, and in the lower part of the box. In order to economize space, the lower part of the box and 4, so that these bus-bars 11 and 12 may lie approximately in a common .plane lwith.

the slate slab 6, to permit of the cover-plate 2 being brought nearer to the slab 6, thusl reducing the depth of the boxas a whole.

The Vmode of assembly will readily be understood. A. cable introduced through an orifice 3, is secured in place in any suitable manner.- Its several conductors, separated within a compartment 4 within the box, are sweated to the pole pieces, the neutral to the pole piece 7 and' the positive and negative conductors to the pole pieces 8 and 9. The neutral is thus placed in communication with the bus-bar 10, which may or may not be grounded as desired, and the positive and negative are put in communication with the positive and negative bus-bars 11 and 12, to which all ofthe positive and negative conductorsI of the introduced cables lead. 'When the connections have thus. been made, the compartment formed by the partitions 4 and the slab 6 are .filled with insulating compound, immersing t-he otherwi'scxexpose cable conductors and the pole pieces 'to which they are connected, and securing and insulating the whole structure.

In addition to the economy of space effected on this construction, it will be understood that access may be had to eachcompartment independently of the others, for the insertion and removal of a cable; and this is a very desirable thing in practical work. Furthermore, the surfaces of insulating material which -extend between the pole pieces where they 'protrude through partition 6, are of such-character and so positioned as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of leakage through accumulation of dust. It is also a matter of very appreeiable advantage to be able to have access to the compartments behind partition 6 without disturbing the bus-bars. For example, after the box is installed, it may be found desirable to introduce a newly laid cable into one of the compartments of the box not previously occupied, and, with my improved deslgn, it is possible to do this without disturbing the bus-bars from their positions. This is so because the bus-bars are arranged in vthe box beyond the edges of the removable partition 6.

In the modication shown in Fig. 3, the primary object is to permit of opening and closing a switch in the line of the owing current, Without the delay and diiiculty incident to the opening of the box itself. It sometimes happens that under emergency it it desirable to thus break the circuit Within thejunction box.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the contactieee between the pole piece 8 and the busiiar 11 will be found indicated at 13. This contact-piece may be a simple and suitable length of conducting material, or it maybe a fuse of any preferred nature. In the modification shown' in Fig. 3, instead of having a simple connecting piece,I employ a knife' i 10.0f the junction box, preferably its lower- -most.\vall, through 'a stuffing box 17; and, by operating this handlel, the switch may be thrown open or closed as desired: Further, I preferably carry 'a wall 18 up from the 1 5'. lowermostwall ofthe box, parallel with the slate partition 6, to a point. higher than the l'spring-jack of the switch. This partition 18 forms another compartment Within the box, and this compartment may be filled with oil. This is` desirable, because the knife-blade switch operating in oil is, as is well known, the most elicient of such make and break devices, when the voltage is at all great.

As shown in Fig. 3, the operating rod'16 with its handle v15 is carried out through the lid or cover EZ of the box. The lever system which extends from the switch to the operatingrod may include a separable connection, permitting the removal of the cover when desired.

The chamber formed by the partition 18 for including oil will necessarily have a drain orifice. such as 19, and the chamber formed by the partitions 5 and the slab of slate (i will also preferably be provided with a drain orifice, such as 20.

In Fig. 4 l have shown the manner in which the modiiicd structure of Fig. 3 may be arranged, so that the switchl may be operated from outside-of thel manhole. An

operating rod 21, connected with the switchblade 14 through lever mechanism, extends up through the street pavement above, and terminates ,in a handle 22, which may be suitably protected in a covered recess sunk in the street pavement. The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 has this further advantage, that the switch may be operated, even though the box Within the man-hole be submerged in Water, a condition which is not uncommon in service. The construction is such as to exclude water from the working4 parts of the box and still permitthe switch to be. opened and closed. These structures are' ordinarily made water-tight against damage, if submerged. It. is impossible to have an operatlng arm pass throughthe box wall Without danger of'leakage; but, by

forming the opening in the bottom of the box, and providing the partition 18, the Water which may enter'at 17 can do no harm; the consequent compression oi .the air within the box \villcvenin case of complete submergence, prevent the water from risingabove the edge of partition 18.

vI claim .herein as my invention: p

1. A junctinbox for multiple-oonductor cables consisting of a casing, a partition extending upwardrom the lowermost wall 'n of the casing and dividing the space within,70

the space on one side of said partition being further divided into a plurality oseparate compartments, and an orifice orthe' introduction 'of a cable formed in the jnnctionbox wall and opening into'eachof suchcoxn- 15 partments, and pole-piecesextending through said partition and into each of said compartmcnts, substantially as described.

2. A junction lbox for multiple-conductor cables adapted to be secured against a vertical wall, and consisting of a. casing provided ivith a removablelid orcover plate 'which forms the exposed side yvhen the box is ap'- plied to a vertical wall,I a partition arranged within the casing, extendin upward from the lowermost xvall thereo and, 'substan-f tially ,parallel with said cover plate, with space interveningfbetween saidA partition and z the back Wall of the box o n one side, Aand between said partitionand the said cover plate '90 on the otherside, the space'betvveen thels'ai'd artition and the rear Wall `of the .box bemg subdivided to' form a' plurality of-comf partments, a plurality'o'f orifices formed in the lowermost wall of said boxvand opening into each of said compartments and polepieces extending tl 1rou,' `rhl said partition' from the space vetween lsaid partition and the cover plate into, ea'ch of said 'compartfments. substantially as described. l r

3. In a junction box for multi `le-'conductor cables the combination of a casin hav'f ing an-ol-set or step in its lowermos wal1,1: a partition clamped against the vertical face of such stepl and extending upward todivide the chamber within; the junction' box; pole-pieces extending through saidpartr tion, and bus-bars arranged infsaid oir-set portion of the lowermost wall' of vthe junc-' tion box and substantially in line-with said' 110 partition, and connections between the several said pole pie-'ces and busebars, substantially-as described.

4. In a junction box, the combination-.ofesa partition 'within the box extending', tp? wardly from the lowermost wall toward e uppermostbut spaced from the latterz; a

pole piece extending through said partitxbl' from side `to side, a bus-bar arranged inthe v upper part of the junction box chamber and? '120" above the upper edge of said partitionyandv connection between said ole ieee and said: bus-bar, substantially as escri ed.v

5; I n a junction box the combinatioiiof'a1 shell or casing, a vertically disposed partil lB tion dividing the'chamber within` the junction box, and provided with pol-pieces ex 4 tending transversely therethrough', the .space onone side of said partition being further subdivided i'nto a plurality of compartments, 130

`"ioni ol said easing part wainto each of 'which a pole piece extends, and

the vspace on the other side of said partition being further divided by :i partition parallel i i l l i with said first-named partition and extending upward from the lowerinost Wall of said box to forni with said first-named partition and the box walls a receptacle into which Huid niav be" itiodneed to 'subine'rl'fe lthe 1 o L. protruding ends ot said pole-pieces, subt eoinparinieiits 'withinsaid easing, orifices in the wall loi' said casing# opening iii'to conipartnieiits oii'oiie side of fsjaid removable partition, pole pieces: extei'ii'lling through said removable partitioiiintoj each .ofthe ,several compartments.on onefside thereof, and hiivslbai's arranged within said easing,

through the junction box ber on the opposite side of said and ,operative eonntion between I and said iiialte-aiidbi'eak device, lsuoli conneetioii extending troni one side of said part'iiioirto the other at a higher leveltlian the of said removable partibeyond the edges as described.

tion, substantially 7. In a junction tors, 'a partition extending upward from the bottoni of the box and dividing the space within into separate chambers, an electric jointl arranged within the box 0n one side of said partition, and including a make-andbieak device, an operating rod extending wall into the charnpartition, said rod poi'iit 'at which said operating rod passes through the wall oi" the box, substantially as described.

4 lii' .testimony whereof, l have hereunto set I' niy hand.

oHiiiiLEs w. DAVIS.

' Witnesses: i'

' Ciiaiini-:s Bann Err, 'liiizonoiii-i Drr.

box for electrical conduc- 

